Switch-throwing device.



No. 796,581. 'PATBNTED AUG. 3,1905. B. JONES.

SWITCH THROWING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

EDWARD JONES, OF BYESVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ERNEST R. BROOKER, OF BYESVILLE, OHIO.

SWlTCH-THROWING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed May 2, 1904. Serial No. 206,064.

. To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, EDWARD J onus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Byesville, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Throwing Devices; and 1 do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic switch-throwing devices.

The object of the invention is to provide a device whereby a switch may be thrown by the locomotive or motor-car of a train after said locomotive or motor-car has passed the switch and before the uncoupled cars of the train have reached the same, thereby causing said uncoupled cars to engage said switch and be turned onto the side tracks.

Another object is to provide means whereby the switch-points may be thrown by hand.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, and eflicient, means being provided whereby the parts may be adjusted.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of the main line and side tracks of a railway, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, showing the parts in their normal position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts after the switch has been thrown. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the ends of the switch-points, showing the connecting-rods and lever on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the switch stand and lever by which said switch-points are thrown by hand. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the braceplates of the operating mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the main-line tracks, 2 the side tracks, and 3 the switch points or rails of a railway. Near their outer ends the switchpoints are connected by a connecting-rod 4., said rod being provided with a turnbuckle 5, whereby the same may be lengthened or shortened to adjust said switch-points. The outer end of the connecting-rod 4 extends beyond the main-track rails and is connected near this end to one arm of a bell-crank lever 6, which is pivotally connected to one of the railwayties. To the other arm of the bell-crank lever 6 is connected one end of an operatingrod 7 inwhich is arranged a turnbuckle and coil-spring 8, whereby said rod may be adjusted to compensate for the wear of the parts. To the opposite end of the rod 7 is connected the downwardly-turned end of a movable tread-bar 9, which is pivotally connected to and supported by short vertically-disposed bars or links 10, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to cross-pieces 12, arranged between and secured to the ties of the railway. Said lower ends of the links are held in place by otl'setbrace-plates or straps 13, which are bolted to said pieces 12, as shown. To the extreme outer end of the connecting-rod is pivotally connected the inner end of a handoperating switch-rod 14, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a hand-lever 15, pivotally mounted on a switch-stand 16, located near the side of said main-line tracks.

Should atrain having cars to be side-tracked approach the switch from the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, said cars would be uncoupled from the locomotive or motorcar just before the switch is reached, which will permit said locomotive or motor-car to run on ahead of said cars past the switchpoints and onto the tread-bar 9, pushing said. bar downwardly and forwardly, thereby ac tuating the operating-rod and bell-crank lever and throwing said switch-points to open said side tracks before the uncoupled cars reach the same, thus switching said cars off the main track and onto the side rails. The momentum of the cars after the motive power is uncoupled is sufficient to cause said cars to run onto said side tracks. After the cars have passed onto said side tracks the switch may be closed again by the hand-lever 15 and operating-rod 1 1. This hand mechanism is also used to manually throw said switch to an open position when desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. 4

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with a main track and a side track, a pair of switch-rails, one normally alining with the main track to close the side track, and the other normally alining with the side track and opening the main track, a treadbar opposite the side track on one side of the main track and in rear of the free ends of the switch-rails, and operative connections between the tread-bar and the free ends of the switch-rails to open the main-track switchrail from the side track and close the sidetrack switch-rail against the proximate maintrack rail when the tread-bar is depressed by a locomotive running past the side track in one direction and, hence, cause a following, detached section of the train to run upon the side track and thus automatically effect a flying switch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD JONES.

Witnesses:

ALVAH B. FLooD, ELZA D. TROTT. 

